I have been on a dairy free diet for 15 years

My dairy intolerance happened out of the blue

The first time I remember having pain was when I took a medicine that I had to take with food. I decided to have it with milk and cereal, which I used to love. For the first time, it made me nauseous. I wondered if it had something to do with the medicine he had given me stomach ache before. But since it was rare for me to have an upset stomach, I developed an aversion to milk and never had it and stopped taking the medicine.

Weeks later, I ate ice cream and it also resulted in excruciating, throbbing pain that brought me to my knees for hours. Now I can say that the pain was almost as strong as labor contractsexcept maybe even worse, because it was non-stop. I also stopped eating ice cream.

The following semester, I made homemade mac and cheese for a classmate, and after a few bites, it immediately turned my stomach. The final straw was when one of my teachers bought pizza for our class. I tried to eat it, but within minutes I was running to the bathroom.

I’ve never been officially diagnosed, but I’m starting to think I am lactose intoleranceas I felt unbearable pain only when I consumed dairy products. John Hopkins Medicine says that symptoms, which include bloating, diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea, may appear during adolescence or adulthood.

Although I liked the taste, dairy was no longer worth eating. Getting off my diet proved to be a difficult task, especially back then, before alternatives were so common.

Eating in social situations is difficult

I have found that restaurants, especially local ones, do not always indicate on the menu when they have included cream or cheese in their meals. When I go out to eat, I have to ask a lot of questions about food preparation and ingredients. This annoys some people, so I usually stop to dine with my husband, close family and friends.

If I go to group gatherings like weddings, work events and parties, I probably won’t be able to eat much of the food because it contains dairy. I usually have to contact the host beforehand to find out what’s on the menu and let them know I’ll need a dairy-free or vegan option.

If that’s not possible, I’ll eat whatever I can, like bread or a side dish, then go out to eat. For work functions, I usually don’t attend unless they’re mandatory because they seem to center around food I can’t eat; it’s one of the reasons I prefer working in a remote environment.

It is also more expensive to be dairy free. When I go out for coffee, I have to pay extra for soy milk, almond milk or oats.

I’m thankful that there are more dairy-free options now

My home is my safe place where I don’t have to constantly think about avoiding dairy. Fortunately, businesses like ice cream shops and grocery stores have become much more inclusive in recent years, and it’s become easier to find non-dairy alternatives to products like milk, ice cream, and yogurt. I can enjoy Ben & Jerry’s ice cream based on almondsSo Delicious Coconut Milk Vanilla Yogurt and Fearless Silk Organic Soy Milk.

Research indicates that people with lactose intolerance and those who have problems with dairy products can manage different amounts of lactose. That was confusing to everyone around me. Over the years, I’ve learned that the only things with dairy I can handle are Cheez-Its, margarine (some varieties of margarine have dairy and some don’t), and baked goods that cook milk in, like cakes, biscuits and pancakes.

To make up for my lack of dairy, I take care of myself calcium intake and eat foods like broccoli, oranges, collard greens and cabbage. It must be working because my calcium levels have remained normal. I also take a vitamin D supplement.

I am thankful that my husband is so kind. The meals I make do not include dairy, but if my husband wants it, he will add it to his. He typically orders dairy-based meals when we eat out on the weekend.

I know there are lactase tablets I can take before eating dairy to aid digestion. I’m too scared to try them though because they might not work.

Although this trip has been challenging, it has taught me to be more inclusive and considerate of others’ dietary restrictions when planning dates. It also helped me become more open to trying new foods. There are pros and cons in every situation. You just have to find the positive.